Corkscrew Balloon III

The Story of CB3:I'd been thinking about it for a while. Then, in late 1997, I commissioned a couple of alternative design plans. In April 1998, a photo shoot helped set the parameters of Jeff Brewington's revised design, and on June 17, the resulting plans for the front of the balloon were unveiled.

Jeff ultimately completed the final design for the other sides of the envelope: Screwmaid Models Denise and Christen grace the backside, and corkscrews from my collection adorn the port and starboard. And, should we ever need a different design, the models have another idea waiting in the wings.

The flying debut of The Third Balloon was originally scheduled for the January 1999 Swiss Hot Air Balloon Festival in Chateau d'Oex. Logistical difficulties caused those plans to be scrapped, however. (It wasn't possible to get the design approved by the Festival authorities in time.) But at the start of next year's millennium Festival, on January 22, 2000, Corkscrew Balloon III (Invasion of the Screwmaids) will rise for its maiden flight over the Swiss Alps. In terms of "mega events," next New Year's Eve pales!